Structural unit



March 7, 1933. D. H. BITNEY STRUCTURAL UNIT Filed Jan. 11, 1932 INVENTORI Dewe fl 5:357 q BY ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 7, 1933 .v iT Y- TA PATENT o I DEWEY H. IBITNEY, or ALBION, MICHIGAN, 'ASSIGNOIt T0 UNION srnnr. rnonncrs cou- PANY, or ALBION, MICHIGAN i STRUCTURAL UNIT limitation fi led January 11; 1932. Serial no. 585,824.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide a structural unit by means of which a plurality of reinforcing elements may [be effectively supported in definite relation to each'other.

' Second, "to provide a reinforce element supporting structural unit which'm'ay be quickly applied to a beam, joist studdingor the like and the reinforce elements quickly engaged therewith and supported thereby in parallel and transverse relation. 7 Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. tion is defined in the claims.

A structure'which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:v

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective-view of my improvedstructural element applied to an I-beam, the. beam being'indicated by dotted lines. I u v I I Fig. 2 is a detail view partially in section on line 22 of Fig. 3. 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sideelevation. F ig.4: is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in sectionon line-44.- of Fig. .3. In theembodiment of my invention illus-' trated in the accompanying drawing my improver structural unit comprises alongitudinal rod l'which in practice is of substantial length andis formed of springable .sothat they become, in, effect, a fixed part thereof.

To the upwardly projecting ends of these support members 21 secure. a plurality of r reinforce holders 6. These reinforce holders aredisposed transversely of the longitudinal rod and transversely of the supports, and are provided With-upturned'endsJZ at one end which coact with the ends 8 of the supports in providing upwardly facing seats 9 for The inven I reinforce bars." The other ends of these supports have-spring arms 10 which are spaced from and preferably overhang the longitudinal rod to engage a reinforce member 16 arranged on the rod, see F ig. 3. The ends ofthe arms 10 are turned inwardly to provide reinforce engaging. hooks 15.. i

The reinforce bars may be quickly snapped under these holders, thehooks 15 springing over the rods and snapping downbehind the same, effectively retaining them in place. of'the rods with the supports.

The longitudinal rods are in the embodiment illustrated also provided with U- shaped reinforce holders 11 disposed transversely of the longitudinal rod intermediate the support members 2 and fixedly secured to the. longitudinal rod by one arm preferably by welding as indicated in in 4..

The other arms 12 of these holders are free to swing to permit engagement of reinforce bars 14 withthe holders, the arms 12 terminating in inturned hooks 13 which engage the reinforce bars and effectively, retain them in position,

-Normally the straight but they maybe sprung to engage alternate hooks 3 with opposite edges of the structural member, the hooks facing in opposite directions as illustrated in Fig. 1,. Thereis suflicient' resilience in the rod 1 to permitithis manipulation andto hold the supports in engagement with the beam, joist or other element.

The holders described permit very rapid engagementof the reinforce members, both with the arms 10 and in the holders 11, and after these have been engaged the bars, 9,

which are disposed transversely of the bars 14 and 16', may be arranged in the upwardly facing seats. described are adapted either to receive a reinforce bar or a screed bar, as may be desired.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is highly satisfactory. 'I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modificalongitudinal Jrodsv are This permits Very rapid engagement The upwardly facing seats Let tions and adaptations for particular uses as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A structural unit comprising a longiholders fixedly secured to the other ends of said support members transversely thereof and transversely of said rod and having spring, arms at one end disposed in spaced relation to the rod and terminating in inturned reinforce engaging hooks, the other ends of said reinforce holder members being directed upwardly and coacting with the ends of the support members to provide reinforce seats, and U-shaped clips disposed transversely of said-longitudinal rod intermediate its said support members, one arm thereof being fixedly secured to the rod, the other arm being freeand springable to receive a reinforcing element and having its end directed inwardly to provide a reinforce engaging member.

2. A structural unit comprising a longitu- 'dinal rod of springable material, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at'each side thereof and having hooks at one end engageable with the flange of a beam or like structural element, the hooks of adjacent support engaging members being disposed to engage opposite edges of the supporting element, reinforce holders fixedly secured to the other ends of said support members transversely thereof and transversely of said rod and having spring arms at one end disposed in spaced relation to the rod and terminating in inturned reinforce engaging hooks, the other ends of said reinforce holder members being directed upwardly and coacting with the ends of the support members to provide reinforce seats.

3. A structural unit comprising a longitudinal rod of springable material, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at each side thereof and having hooks at one end engageable with the flange of a beam or like structural element, the hooks of adjacent support engaging members being disposed to engage opposite edges of the supporting element, reinforce holders fixedly secured to the other ends of said ityof support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at each side thereof and having hooks at one end engageable with the flange of a beam or like structural element, the hooks of adjacent support engaglng members being disposed to engage opposite edges of the supporting element, and reinforce holders fixedly secured to the other ends of said support members and having spring arms disposed in spaced relation to the rod and terminating in inturned reinforce engaging hooks.

5. A structural unit comprising a longitudinal rod, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at each side thereof, reinforce holders fixedly secured to said supporting members transversely thereof and transversely of said rod and having spring arms atone end disposed in spaced relation to the rod and coactingtherewith to retain a reinforce element, the other arms of said reinforce holder members being disposed to coact with the support members to provide reinforce seats, and U-shaped reinforce holders disposed transversely of said longitudinal rodintermediate of said support members, one arm of said holders being secured to the rod and the, other being free and sprin-gable to receive a reinforce element.

- 6. A structural unit comprising a longitudinal rod, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at each side Q thereof, reinforce holders fixedly secured to said supporting members and having spring arms at one end disposed in spaced relation to the rod and coacting therewith to retain a reinforce element, and U-shap'ed reinforce holders disposed transversely of said longitudinal rod intermediate of said support members, one arm of said holders being secured to the rod and the other being free, and

springable to receive a reinforce element.

7. A structural unit comprising a longitudinal red, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said red in spaced relation to project at each side thereof, and

reinforce holders fixedly secured to "said supporting members transversely thereof and transversely of said rod and having spring arms at-one end disposed in spaced relation to the rod and coacting therewith to retain a reinforce element, the other arms of said reinforce holder members being disposed to coact with the support members to provide reinforce seats. 8. A structural unit comprising a longi tudinal rod, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at each side thereof, and reinforce holders fixedly secured to said supporting members and having spring arms atone end disposed in spaced relation to the rod and cbacting therewith to retain a reinforce element.

9. A structural unit comprising a longitudinal rod, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at each [side thereof, and reinforce holders fixedly secured to said supporting members transversely thereof and transversely of said rod and having spring arms at one end disposed in overhanging spaced relation to the rod and coacting therewith to retain a reinforce element, said spring arms terminating in inwardly directed hooks.

10. A structural unit comprising a longitudinal rod, a plurality of support engaging members fixedly secured to said rod in spaced relation to project at each side thereof, and reinforce holders fixedly se-,

cured to said supporting members transversely thereof and transversely of said rod and having spring arms at one end disposed in overhanging spaced relation to the rod and c-oacting therewith to retain a reinforce element.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

DEWEY BITNEY. 

